It's unfortunate reading some of the other reviews, for our own experience was thoroughly pleasant. The owners were helpful and attentive and the rooms in this quiet retreat were very comfortable. Swakopmund is not exactly a budget resort, but the Secret Garden was very good value. The Bistro was a great place to eat. We'd stay there again any time.

In spite of postings commenting on the inhospitable inn keepers, we decided to brave a night at the Secret Garden. Our experience couldn't have been better. The owner we'd been warned about proved to be an absolute charmer - fun, helpful, gregarious. The location is minutes from the water and not much farther to the centre of town. Rooms are clean and pleasant; the garden is a delight. Although we went out for meals - except for breakfast (which was fine) - we wished we'd had time to taken in The Bistro. All in all, our stay was excellent! I do plan to return on my next visit to Swakop.

Colleen Braun, Calgary

On first impressions, we liked it - we were shown around by a friendly receptionist, and all seemed good.

Things started going wrong however when we met the owners - they were rude to staff and guests. Our tour guides (black) were very obviously treated differently (they tried to move them and deny them breakfast; the receptionist who had checked them in to a standard room was forced to quit). When we booked activities through our guide rather than through then (which they had been very pushy about) they were clearly irritated and told my brother his activity (paragliding) was a 'waste of time' before walking off.

On the plus side, the breakfast is nice (but don't move the butter - got told off for that too!)

Our family of 8 stayed here recently for 3 nights. The Guest house itself is pleasant, clean and set round a courtyard garden. However the owners are something else, unfriendly, overbearing and one more than one occasion downright rude. Not only to us but they also treated our local guide and his assistant badly, we were shocked at their attitude to them - need we say more !! Don't leave tips in their box on reception, we bypassed that to make sure the people who did the work got them.
We certainly wouldn't go back there.